Pride in Community

Dear Editor:

I had the opportunity on Tuesday, April 28, to be part of a very moving experience.  My wife Karen and I took a personal day of leave from the high school and rode our motorcycle up to Marianna to meet up with approximately 450 other motorcycles gathered to escort "The Wall that Heals" to Apalachicola. The weather was beautiful and as we traveled south on State71 it has been said that our caravan stretched for almost seven miles.  We were about in the middle and even on very long straight stretches, we could not see either end of the sea of motorcycles.  As we rode through Altha we began to realize what a special day it was going to be. The students and adults that lined State 71 were impressive for such a small town. Blountstown, Wewahitchka and, at the final destination, Apalachicola were all equally impressive representatives of small town America. The most impressive of all however, was our little town of Port St Joe.  As soon as we rounded the curve coming into town, the first thing we saw was the large American flag across the road.  Next we began to realize that Costin Blvd. was lined with supporters from the Courthouse to Long Avenue and not just a few but packed with people. As if that was not enough, when we made the left turn onto Long Avenue and began to ride through the gauntlet of people from Costin Blvd. to the Gulf District School Board, I starting hearing the chatter on my radio.  Comments about "this is what it's all about" and "this is the welcome we never had."   Although Karen and I have only lived here for six years, I have never been prouder of any town than I was on Tuesday.

Thank you Port St Joe.

Wayne Taylor

Senior Chief

United States Navy (Retired)